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May 23, 2012

the hours

Tuesday, 9:36 pm, I set the alarm on my phone for four-thirty in the morning. We have to be at the surgical center by five-thirty. Noah is getting several baby teeth removed. It will be the first time he has been under anesthesia since he's been seizure-free. I am not worried.

I do feel like it will be okay. Today was a bad day for me with anxiety, but I am okay now. He went to bed early and said he was only a little scared. I told him to come and get me if he needs me and I'll see him bright and early. God I love that kid.

Wednesday, 4:30 am, I am restless and relieved when my phone rattles on the dresser to signal it is time. Let's just get this over with. A sore has appeared at the very tip of my nose, probably from stress. It's ginormous.

5:10 am, we are almost to the surgical center, twenty minutes early thanks to no traffic. We sit in the car and chat and yawn nervously. Noah wonders if the tooth fairy might bring him the $90 Lego set he wants. Um, no. We wait fifteen minutes and then we go in.

6:02 am, the waiting room smells like mildew. He has been taken back, with a blue surgical cap and green hospital pajamas. He looked so tall as he walked next to the nurse and down the hall, away from me.

6:20 am, it's taking longer than expected. I try not to worry. I check my phone to keep my mind busy and then turn it off. CBS news will not shut up about that dad at the laundromat. I am not sure I can take them showing the clip one more time. With my back to the door, I hear it open and know it's for me.

6:45 am, he's in recovery. He's very groggy and happy it's over. He feels no pain.

7:45 am, we are home. He sits at his desk to check his laptop before he crawls back into bed. His brothers oooh and ahhh over the jar full of teeth. Carter suggests putting them under his pillow one night at a time, to get the most out of the tooth fairy.

This makes me think back to when I first started reading your blog and how Noah has grown up. What a big boy he is now. I like his way of thinking with the tooth fairy. I think you should let him go with it. He earned it and it's cheaper than the Lego set. Glad it all went so well. ((hugs))